QB Bomar arrested for DWI

Article by: JUDD ZULGAD

Star Tribune

August 8, 2011 - 7:21 AM

MANKATO - Vikings quarterback Rhett Bomar was arrested early Sunday morning in Mankato for alleged third-degree drunken driving. He was taken to Blue Earth County Jail, according to the jail's website, but had been released by Sunday evening.

Bomar was arrested near downtown Mankato. The Vikings held a night practice Saturday and then players were off until later Sunday when they had to be back at Gage Center.

Bomar, 26, was signed by the Vikings off the New York Giants practice squad in late December. He has an uphill battle to make the Vikings roster, playing behind Donovan McNabb, first-round pick Christian Ponder and Joe Webb. Those three are all getting practice reps in front of Bomar.

Bomar was the 15th pick of the fifth round in the 2009 draft after playing two seasons at Sam Houston State. Bomar began his collegiate career at Oklahoma and was the starter by early in the 2005 season. However, Bomar was dismissed from the team in August 2006 after it was reported that he was compensated for work he hadn't done at a car dealership owned by an Oklahoma donor.

Vikings spokesman Bob Hagan said the team would have no comment on Sunday.

Cook sees better times ahead

Chris Cook's performance at training camp last summer made it look as if the Vikings might have gotten a steal when they selected the cornerback with the second pick of the second round in the 2010 draft.

The 6-2, 212-pound rookie made several impressive plays and it seemed he might be able to make an immediate contribution. But that was before Cook tore the meniscus in both knees at different points in the season.

He tore the one in his right knee in an exhibition game Aug. 28 against Seattle, underwent arthroscopic surgery and missed the opening two games of the regular season.

Cook was part of the Vikings' nickel package in his first game back, playing the left corner as Antoine Winfield shifted inside. But Cook tore his left meniscus in that September victory over the Detroit Lions and missed more time after having another procedure performed. Cook ended up playing in only six games.

"It was very humbling," said Cook, who clearly was not 100 percent when he did get back on the field for the second time. "It made me very hungry to come back out here and show everybody what I can do. And prove myself to myself."

Cook has been proactive in trying to make sure his second season goes better than his first. The NFL lockout gave him more time to rest his knees -- he was able to start cutting and running in late March -- and he reported to camp 11 pounds lighter (200 this season) than a year ago. "I feel better as far as weightwise and conditioning," Cook said. "It's just a better year for me."

A message from Frazier

Cook's problems did not end when the season did. His offseason got off to a rocky start when he was arrested in early March and accused of pulling a gun on a neighbor of his mother's in Virginia. He admitted he had gotten into a verbal confrontation with the man but denied having pulled a gun.

A judge acquitted Cook in May.

"It was just 'he said, she said,' " Cook explained. "I never did what the guy said I did. I talked to Coach Frazier and he was like 'I know what type of guy you are and I know you wouldn't do something like that in front of your mom's house.'

"He was never really mad at me. He just told me I have to be smarter about situations I put myself in."

Etc.

• The Vikings were off Sunday and will resume practice at 9 a.m. Monday with a session that will be conducted in shoulder pads. There also will be a walkthrough from 3 to 4 p.m. -- a workout geared at getting players to learn on the field while doing no real football activities. The Vikings will conduct practices in full pads at 9 a.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then have one final session in shoulder pads at 9 a.m. Thursday before breaking camp.